Tuesday, 9 April 2013

The Torvean Triangle

The Torvean Triangle is an area of about 3 ha (including a short length of the Canal).
It would be part of the necessary infrastructure for Option 6 (and other rejected options).
The need for it would not exist if a different crossing was considered near Torvean Quarry.

It identifies the three new roundabouts needed in association with the tandem swing bridges.

The roads linking these roundabouts mark out a roughly triangular area.

In this blog this area will be referred to as the Torvean Triangle.

Although I think the Torvean Triangle is a bad idea I must admit it would be fascinating to watch.

Road traffic from the West would normally have a choice of two routes to cross the Caledonian Canal.

Boats travelling through the Canal would require first one then the other swing bridge to open. Whenever a bridge would open that road would be closed and the other would be used.

The road connecting the two roundabouts on the East side does not include a bridge and so would always be open.

At about 30,000 sq m (3 ha), the Torvean Triangle is larger than might be thought.

It is roughly the same size and shape as the triangle enclosed by Baron Taylor's Street and Church Street and Academy Street
(down to the IronWorks).

Being bounded by main roads on all sides, renders it unsuitable as a leisure area.
It would be difficult to access as there are no pedestrian crossings indicated.
This would be a definite loss as this is currently a popular area with many types of user.

The Torvean Triangle would only need to be created as a result of constructing a second swing bridge.
Without a second swing bridge this area could still be landscaped as planned but,
with only one road, the other problems would be considerably reduced.